Automatic funnel.



F. JUNEK, Jn.

AUTOMATIC FUNNEL.

I APP L\ ICATION FILED AUG. H. 1916- 1,275,565 Patented Aug.v 13, 1918.,

I J0 f ,3 1| n i 3/ INVENTOR flank Jane? (J? ATTORNEY cu. Pnomurnm.wunmcmn. n. c

FRANK .rUNEK, an, on CABLE, wIsooNsIN.

AUTOMATIC FUNNEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Application filed August 11, 1916. Serial No. 114,446.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, FRANK JUNEK, Jr., f

citizen of the United States, residing at, Cable, in the county ofBayfield and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Funnels, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to funnels, andparticularly to automatic cut-offstherefor.

The, invention has for its primaryobject to provide a simple andimproved mechanism for automatically preventing liquid flowing from thebowl portion of the funnel into the tank or container after the liquidlevel in the latter has reached acertain height. I

A further object of the invention is to provide, a funnel of thecharacter described which automaticallyresets itself after the liquidhas been removed therefrom.

I A still further and particular object of the invention isto provideafunnel of the type set forth which isof simple and inexpensiveconstruction which is composed of but few readilyassembled parts, all soconstructed and assembled as to prevent wear, breakage or derangement ofthe same, which is automatic in operation, and which will provethoroughly efficient in the attainment of the ends for which it isdesigned.

with these objects in View, together with others which will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation,combinationand arrangement of parts, all aswill be described more fullyhereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

The invention will be best understood with reference to the accompanyingdrawmes:

Figure 1 is a vertical section view taken through a funnel constructedin accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, and VFig. 3 is a perspective view of the valve operating lever.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings 1 represents the funnelas an entirety, the same comprising a mouth or bowl port-ion 5, having adownwardly tapering bottom as shown, to which is threadedly connectedthe restricted discharge tube or outlet 6. This outlet is preferably ofthe same diameter throughout its extent and is provided with an annularinternally threaded rib at a point intermediate its ends. This rib maybe soldered or in any other preferred manner secured to the innerperiphery ofthe discharge tube 6.

A band 8 may be removably arranged within the bowl portion 5 of thefunnel to enable a diaphragm of chamois skin or other straining material9 to, be stretched across the interior of the said bowl. g

An annular valve seat 10 is threaded upon the rib 7 in the outlet 6, andis provided with relatively short downwardly and inwardly projectingside walls, the latter being con nected by a diametrically extending web11, the latter having a centrally disposed aperture through which avalve stem 12 is adapted to slide. Arranged upon the uppermost extremityof the stem 12 is a valve 13, the latter being adapted to seat upon theseat portion 10 and to snugly fit upon the latter to prevent liquidflowing therethrough.

' The stem 12 projects downwardly through the opening in the web 11, andslidably projects through a bearing portion 13 carried by a ring letsecured within the discharge outlet adjacent the lower open end thereof.

of the tube 6 and engage the ring'lt to maintain the latter in properposition within the said tube. V V

Pivoted as at 16 to the bearing portion 13 is a bell crank lever 17, thelatter having one of its arms curved outwardly as at 18, and carriesatits extremity a roller 19 adapted to pass beneath thelower end of andto sup- .Set screws 15 are threaded through the walls port the valvestem 12 in liftedsposition. V

The other arm of the lever projects through an elongated slot 20 in theside wall of the tube 6, and has a buoyant member such as a cork orfloat 21 secured to its free end.

A lever 22 is pivoted as at 23intermediate its ends to the wall of theoutlet 6 and projects at one end within the outlet and is connected withthe valve stem 12 intermediate the ends of the latter. Theinnerextremity ofthe lever is preferably bifurcated as at 24 to straddle thevalve stem and to facilitate pivotally connecting the said endtherewith, The opposite end ofthe lever pro:

jects beyond the discharge tube 6, and has a lever operating link25,secured thereto as at 26. This link projects upwardly from itsconnection, and extends loosely through a suitable opening formed in ahandle or grip member 27 carried by the funnel for manipulating thesame. This link has its upper end provided with a ball or grip member28, and an expansion spring 29, is interposed between the handle and acollar 30 secured to the link below the said handle. This particularconstruction enables the lever 22 to be rocked upon its pivot 23 toeither seat or unseat the valve 13 by oscillation of the stem 12, andthe spring 29 exerts pressure upon the link 25 to normally maintain thevalve in lifted or open position.

To protect the lever 22, link 25 and float 21, a housing 31 is arrangedover the said elements and is secured to the tube 3 as shown. Thehousing adjacent its upper end is provided with an elongated slot 32through which the link 25 extends, and the lower end of the housing isopen to permit of liquid freely flowing into the same.

In operation, the funnel is inserted in the intake opening of a tank orother receptacle. The funnel in the present instance is adaptedparticularly for use in filling gasolene or oil tanks, and the strainermemher or diaphragm is stretched across the bowl portion thereof tostrain impurities from the liquld. Normally, the tension of the spring29 is suflicient to raise the valve 13 to open position, and the rollerend of the bell crank lever engages beneath the lower extremity of thevalve stem 12. The weight of the float 21 is suflicient to force thesaid roller end of the lever inwardly, and the valve stem 12 is thusmaintained in raised position. When the liquid level within the tankattains such height as to flow into the lower open end of the housing31, the float 21 is forced upwardly, the bell crank rocked upon itspivot 16, and the roller 19 is withdrawn from beneath the valve stem 12.The weight of the liquid passing through the discharge tube at onceforces the valve .13 into closed position, whereupon further flow ofliquid into the container is prevented. "When the valve 13 closes, thelink is forced upwardly, and depression of the same with the fingeropens the valve to permit of the escape of liquid contained within thetunnel. tter the funnel has been withdrawn from the tank and the liquidremoved therefrom, the tension of the spring 29 forces the valve stem 12upwardly, and the weight of the float 21 rocks the bell crank so thatthe arm 18 thereof passes beneath the lower extremity of the valve stem.The tunnel thus automatically adjusts itself, and is ready for anotheroperation.

From this description it is apparent that I have provided an extremelysimple and yet thoroughly eflicient automatically actuating funnel. Thevarious parts may be formed of any suitable materials, and are soassembled and arranged as to preclude the possibility of breakage, wear,or accidental displacement of the same. 7

A depth regulating flange 40 is adjustably arranged upon the neckportion of the funnel. This flange is formed of a pair of sections 4-1and 42, connected by bolts i3 whereby the same may be adjusted upon thefunnel neck and securely clamped to the same. This flange limits thedownward movement of the funnel in a tank and forms a support for thesaid funnel.

While the above is a description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is obvious that various changes in the minor details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of theclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a tunnel, of a valve in the outlet of saidtunnel, a. stem depending from said valve, a bell crank lever pivoted insaid outlet and having one of its arms normally disposed in horizontalposition and projecting beyond the said outlet, the extremity of theopposite arm 01 said lever being bent laterally so as to be parallelwith said horizontal arm, a roller on the end of said bent arm adaptedto pass beneath and to support the said stem to hold said valve openwhen the said arm is in horizontal position, and a float on theextremity of the horizontal arm of said bell crank lever, substantiallyas described.

7 2. The combination with a tunnel, of a valve arranged in the outlet ofsaid funnel, a bearing portion beneath the said valve, a stem connectedto said valve and extending through said bearing portion, a bell cranklever pivoted tosaid bearing portion and having one of its arms disposedhorizontally, a roller at the end of the other arm for engagementbeneath said stem to hold the valve in open position, the said rollerbeing adapted to move from beneath said stem to allow said valve to seatwhen said horzontal arm moves upwardly, and a float on said arm,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signatur in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK JUNEK, Jn.

Witnesses:

EDGAR M. DRAKE. STEWART LADD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. w

